Mission

Mission Statement: The Newport News Green Foundation enhances the quality of life in Newport News by preserving, transforming, and promoting green spaces throughout the city.

Green spaces provide a wealth of benefits - they make cities more beautiful, create wildlife habitat, protect area waterways from pollution, and reduce air and noise pollution. Green space also strengthens the economy by helping to attract businesses and maintain property values, and by making the city safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable.

Previous Mission Statement:To promote the creation and preservation of green space throughout the City of Newport News through advocacy, acquisition, and assistance to others in order to make Newport News a more visually attractive place to live, work, and play.

History

The Newport News Green Foundation was established by resolution of the Newport News City Council in June 1998, and became a separately chartered nonprofit, charitable organization five months later. The organization of the Green Foundation was prompted by Council’s awareness that urban development had changed the appearance of the City to the extent that landscaping needed to be reintroduced along urban corridors as well as in green areas that had been established to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of the City.

Governance

Governed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of citizens from each of the City's three voting districts, three members of business and industry, a representative of the Industrial Development Authority, the City Manager (or designee), and the City's Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (or designee).

The Newport News Green Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the creation and preservation of green space throughout the City of Newport News. Preserving a greener future for Newport News provides a wealth of benefits that strengthens our community and enhances the quality of life for all citizens. We rely on support from community partners and individuals to support our mission and to implement our goals.